37-653: Group Captain Francis Victor Beamish , DSO & Bar , DFC , AFC (27 September 1903 – 28 March 1942) was an Irish-born Royal Air Force fighter pilot and flying ace of the Second World War . After flying during the Battle of Britain he continued to lead fighter operations until he was killed in action in 1942. Beamish was born at Dunmanway in County Cork , Ireland, on 27 September 1903,
74-564: A Fixed Wing Beaver aircraft. During 1991, No. 655 Squadron AAC moved from RAF Ballykelly to Aldergrove with the Westland Lynx AH Mk 7 helicopter. On 1 October 1993, the Northern Ireland Regiment Army Air Corps was retitled 5 Regiment Army Air Corps . On 4 August 2008, 651 Squadron Army Air Corps moved back to Northern Ireland from RAF Odiham almost 50 years after its first deployment there. During
111-402: A Royal Air Force station after two squadrons there had been intensively engaged in successful fighting operations over France for thirteen days and personally led them on many patrols against the enemy. In June, 1940, during an offensive mission over France, six Messerschmitt Bf 109s were destroyed, two of them by Wing Commander Beamish himself and twelve driven off. One day recently he assisted in
148-585: A commission as flight lieutenant in the Reserve of Air Force Officers. A notice in the London Gazette in February 1937 recorded that Flight Lieutenant Francis Victor Beamish (RAF retired) had been reinstated on the active list as a flight lieutenant with effect from 27 January 1937 (with seniority dated 23 March 1932, having relinquished his commission with the Reserve of Air Force Officers, Having recovered his health he
185-592: A course at the Central Flying School at Wittering before commencing a tour as an instructor at No. 5 Flying Training School at Sealand . Beamish played rugby union for Harlequins , Leicester , Hampshire, Royal Air Force and Irish Trials for several years. He was the eldest of the Beamish brothers who were all accomplished sportsmen and RAF officers; his brothers being George , Charles and Cecil . In September 1927 Beamish returned to Cranwell College as
222-478: A fighter pilot he took every opportunity to fly operationally. On 18 June 1940 he claimed two Messerschmitt Bf 109s fighters destroyed, on 9 July 1940 one Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighter damaged, then on 12 July 1940 a Dornier Do 17 bomber shot down. Beamish was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on 23 July 1940, when his citation stated: Wing Commander Beamish took over command of
259-645: A flight commander. In January 1932 he was appointed personal assistant to the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) at Uxbridge . By 1933, his pleurisy worsened into tuberculosis and he was hospitalised. He reluctantly relinquished his commission in the RAF in October 1933 due to ill-health. In 1934 Beamish secured a civilian post at No. 2 Flying Training School RAF Digby which he held until appointed civilian adjutant at RAF Aldergrove on 18 May 1936 simultaneously being granted
296-673: A forced-landing at Leeds Castle in Kent. The following day, it was announced in The London Gazette that Beamish had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross . The published citation read: The work of this station commander has been outstanding. He has displayed exceptional keenness in his engagements against the enemy and has recently destroyed one and possibly a further seven enemy aircraft. His coolness and courage have proved an inspiration to all. In all his sorties in 1940, he
333-627: A member of the staff. He was promoted flight lieutenant late the following year. Beamish was posted to Canada in March 1929 on an exchange with the Royal Canadian Air Force , where he worked in training and development of an aerobatics display team. During his time in Canada he developed pleurisy. On his return to the United Kingdom two years later, he was posted to No. 25 Squadron at Hawkinge as
370-445: A probable Heinkel He 111 bomber, on 15 September 1940 a shared He 111 and on 18 September 1940 and 27 September 1940 he scored probable Bf 109s. Beamish damaged a Bf 109 on 12 October 1940, on 25 October 1940 he probably destroyed a Bf 109 and damaged another and finally probably shooting down another on 30 October 1940. On 7 November 1940 Beamish collided with Pilot Officer Tom Neil of No. 249 Squadron RAF whilst on patrol and made
407-563: A staff of 2,500 RAF personnel and 1,500 civilians. Various squadrons were posted here between 1945 and 1985: No. 72 Squadron operated Westland Wessex HC.2 helicopters from Aldergrove from 12 November 1981 until its disbandment in 2002. No. 230 Squadron RAF was re-deployed from Germany to RAF Aldergrove in 1992, where it operated Westland Puma HC.1 helicopters until its relocation to RAF Benson in November 2009. No. 18 Squadron RAF also operated detachments of Boeing Chinook during
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#1732855349566444-519: A sweep involving eight RAF squadrons along the French coast; the intention was to draw out Luftwaffe fighters. A formation of Fw 190s was sighted near Cap Griz Nez and in the engagement which followed, Beamish was attacked and damaged by a Fw 190. He requested a position over the radio and was last sighted crossing the French coast. Presumed to have crashed into the English Channel, he has no known grave and
481-580: Is commemorated on the Runneymeade Memorial at Englefield Green . Group Captain Group captain ( Gp Capt or G/C ) is a senior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force . The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence . Group captain is immediately senior to wing commander and immediately below air commodore . It
518-417: Is one broad red band in the centre. Only the wing commander and group captain command pennants are triangular in shape. RAF Aldergrove Aldergrove Flying Station , also known previously as JHC FS Aldergrove , is a British military base located 4.4 miles (7.1 km) south of Antrim , Northern Ireland and 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Belfast , and adjoins Belfast International Airport . It
555-586: Is sometimes referred to simply as Aldergrove which is the name of a nearby hamlet. The military flying units share Aldergrove's runways with Belfast International Airport, but have their own separate facilities and helipad. The site was formerly RAF Aldergrove , a Royal Air Force station which was in operation between 1918 and 2009. RAF Aldergrove first opened in 1918 but was not designated as an operational RAF station until 1925. Various squadrons were posted here during this time: Aldergrove's location made it an important station of RAF Coastal Command in
592-467: Is usually equivalent to the rank of captain in the navy and of the rank of colonel in other services. The equivalent rank in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force , Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force , Women's Royal Air Force (until 1968) and Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service (until 1980) was "group officer". The rank was used in the Royal Canadian Air Force until the 1968 unification of
629-414: Is worn on both the lower sleeves of the tunic or on the shoulders of the flying suit or the casual uniform. Group captains are the first rank in the RAF hierarchy to wear gold braid on the peak of their cap, informally known as ' scrambled egg '; however, they still wear the standard RAF officer's cap badge. The command pennant for a group captain is similar to the one for a wing commander except that there
666-581: The Battle of the Atlantic , during the Second World War. From the base, long-range reconnaissance aircraft were able to patrol the Eastern Atlantic Ocean for U-boats . Some of these patrols ranged as far out as the distant islet of Rockall . Various squadrons were posted here during this time: Aldergrove was designated as a dispersal airfield for the RAF's V bomber force in the 1950s and
703-521: The Canadian Forces , when army-type rank titles were adopted. Canadian group captains then became colonels . In official Canadian French usage, the rank title was colonel d'aviation . On 1 April 1918, the newly created RAF adopted its officer rank titles from the British Army , with Royal Naval Air Service captains and Royal Flying Corps colonels becoming colonels in the RAF. In response to
740-561: The annual Battle of Britain parade, the RAF ensign was lowered for the last time and the Joint Helicopter Command flag was hoisted in its place. No. 651 Squadron's Britten-Norman Islander and Defender aircraft were retired from service in June 2021. In August 2021, No. 651 Squadron was transferred to the command of 1 Regiment, AAC. No. 665 Squadron was the final Army Air Corps squadron based at Aldergrove. It formerly operated
777-467: The closure of RAF Machrihanish , the base is now used for University Air Squadron and Air Training Corps cadets as a training camp, where cadets from Scotland and Northern Ireland gather for flying experiences, fieldcraft , shooting, first aid and other activities. In 2003, Air Force One arrived at the airport in support of U.S. presidential visits to Northern Ireland. Aldergrove officially ceased to be an RAF Station on 20 September 2009 when, after
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#1732855349566814-549: The destruction of a Messerschmitt Bf 110 whilst leading the escort to a convoy and three days later he shot down a Dornier Do 17. This officer's outstanding leadership and high courage have inspired all those under his command with great energy and dash. In action during the height of the Battle of Britain on 18 August 1940 Beamish claimed a probable Junkers Ju 88 bomber, on 24 August 1940 a Do 17 damaged and on 30 August 1940 two probable Bf 110s. On 6 September 1940 Beamish claimed two Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers, on 11 September 1940
851-543: The highest order and he has set a magnificent example. Beamish was appointed to command RAF Kenley on 25 January 1942 and was able to fly more frequently with his squadrons. Accompanied by Wing Commander Robert Boyd he took off on the morning of 12 February on a reconnaissance flight during which they chased two Bf 109s before sighting part of the German Fleet making its ' Channel Dash '. The ships had been reported ten minutes earlier by two pilots of No. 91 Squadron RAF but
888-762: The late 80s in support of the British Army in Northern Ireland. The following units were here at some point: The Army Air Corps also operated Westland Lynx and Westland Gazelle helicopters as well as de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver aircraft in its joint operations with the RAF's Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre (Northern Ireland); the Beaver was replaced by the Britten-Norman Islander late in 1988. The 17/21st Lancers Air Squadron based at RAF Aldergrove from 1969 to 1971 operating with Sioux Helicopters and
925-517: The latter years of Operation BANNER , 5 Regiment Army Air Corps and 230 Squadron RAF came under the control of the Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) and formed the Joint Helicopter Force Northern Ireland (JHF(NI)). As the site was no longer a major RAF establishment it became Joint Helicopter Command Flying Station Aldergrove. After the end of Operation BANNER, a number of other Army units were relocated to Aldergrove. The base
962-507: The mid-1920s they were usually commanded by an air officer . In the post-World War II period the commander of an RAF flying station or a major ground training station has typically been a group captain. More recently, expeditionary air wings have also been commanded by group captains. The rank insignia is based on the four gold bands of captains in the Royal Navy, comprising four narrow light blue bands over slightly wider black bands. This
999-571: The oldest son of Francis George Beamish, a schoolmaster, and Mary Elizabeth Beamish. Initially educated locally, from 1913 to 1921, he went to Coleraine Academical Institution . He was captain of the facility's senior rugby team for the final two years of his education. Beamish entered the Royal Air Force's Cranwell College at Cranwell as a flight cadet in September 1921. Graduating in August 1923, he
1036-593: The proposal that the RAF should use its own rank titles, it was suggested that the RAF might use the Royal Navy 's officer ranks, with the word "air" inserted before the naval rank title. For example, the rank that later became group captain would have been "air captain". Although the Admiralty objected to this simple modification of their rank titles, it was agreed that the RAF might base many of its officer rank titles on naval officer ranks with differing pre-modifying terms. It
1073-540: The report had not been fully believed until such senior confirmation was received. Attacks were then planned. On 13 February Beamish shared in the destruction of a Heinkel He 115 float plane over the Channel. On 9 March, he claimed a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter destroyed claiming a second one and a Bf 109 on 26 March 1942. On 28 March, Beamish was flying with the New Zealand No. 485 Squadron , which operated from Kenley, on
1110-474: Was also suggested that RAF colonels might be entitled "bannerets" or "leaders". However, the rank title based on the Navy rank was preferred and as RAF colonels typically commanded groups the rank title group captain was chosen. The rank of group captain was introduced in August 1919 and has been used continuously since then. Although in the early years of the RAF groups were normally commanded by group captains, by
1147-713: Was awarded the Air Force Cross on 1 January 1938, for his work in the formation of the "Met Flight". Beamish completed a course at RAF Staff College , Andover and was appointed to command No. 504 Squadron RAF at RAF Digby on 13 September 1939 before sailing to Canada in January 1940 on staff duty, he was Mentioned in Despatches on 20 February 1940 for his service in command. Beamish was promoted Wing Commander on 1 March 1940, and returned to England assuming command of RAF North Weald on 7 June 1940. As evidenced by his tally as
Victor Beamish - Misplaced Pages Continue
1184-462: Was damaged by enemy action three times, on each occasion getting his aircraft down safely. On 11 November 1940 an attack was carried out by Italian aircraft based in Belgium during which Beamish claimed a probable Fiat CR.42 Falco bi-plane fighter. On 13 November 1940 he damaged a Bf 109 near Dover. On 10 January 1941 he shot down a Bf 109 but was posted to HQ No. 11 Group RAF on 17 March 1941. Beamish
1221-643: Was granted a permanent commission as a pilot officer with effect from 15 August. The following month he was posted to No. 4 Squadron , an army-co-operation unit, at Farnborough . In early 1925 Beamish was posted to the School of Army Co-operation at Old Sarum , subsequently being promoted to flying officer . Towards the end of the year, Beamish was posted to British India, joining No. 31 Squadron at Ambala . He transferred to No. 60 Squadron at Kohat in April 1926. Returning to England in October, Beamish participated in
1258-481: Was included in a reduced list of 26 airfields in 1962. In 1968 No. 23 Maintenance Unit RAF was responsible for the maintenance of McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom IIs in RAF service, with 116 aircraft passing through on their way to front-line service. Aldergrove was also the main servicing and reconditioning station for the English Electric Canberra from their introduction in 1951. In 1976, the station had
1295-501: Was no longer therefore administered by the JHC and on 1 Apr 2013 became Aldergrove Flying Station under command of 38 (Irish) Brigade. 5 Regiment Army Air Corps continued to operate at Aldergrove, providing Gazelle, Defender and Islander aircraft in support of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and military units for Operation Helvetic , and for other operations abroad. Due to
1332-547: Was reinstated with full flying status and posted to command No. 2 Armament Training Camp and then the Meteorological Flight at RAF Aldergrove . He was appointed to command No. 64 Squadron RAF at RAF Church Fenton on 8 December 1937. Squadron Leader Beamish served as Honorary Aide-de-Camp representing the Royal Air Force on the staff of the Governor of Northern Ireland from 6 April 1937 until 6 January 1938. Beamish
1369-722: Was unable to fly regularly by now but occasionally flew over occupied Europe and claimed a probable Bf 109 near Mardyck on 9 August. Beamish was awarded a Bar to the DSO on 2 September; his citation stated: Group Captain Beamish commanded a Royal Air Force Station from October 1940 to March, 1941 and during that period carried out 71 operational sorties in which he destroyed an enemy fighter, probably destroyed three other hostile aircraft and damaged others. Since his appointment to Group headquarters he has taken part in further sorties and has probably destroyed two more enemy aircraft. The courage and devotion to duty displayed by Group Captain Beamish are of
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